Brian Shaw bringing Denver Nuggets to his reunion with Indiana Pacers

Even though this is Brian Shaw's first season as an NBA head coach, there have been enough "been there, done that" moments to keep things from getting too sentimental.

Facing the Los Angeles Lakers, for whom he played? Yawn.

Going home to Oakland? Fun, but not unique.

What about coaching in Boston, the team that drafted you? Eh.

But this? This is new. This is the Indiana Pacers, against whom Shaw will coach Saturday night. This is the first time he will see, in person, everyone he used to work with on a daily basis when he was an assistant for the Pacers the past two seasons.

Shaw's experience with the Pacers is the biggest reason he's now the coach of the Nuggets. Shaw made a name for himself as an assistant for Phil Jackson with the Lakers, but when they passed on him to replace Jackson — even though Jackson endorsed him — he was thrust into a situation where he needed to prove himself once more. The Pacers provided the platform.

"After they didn't want us anymore in L.A., they welcomed me with open arms in Indiana," Shaw said. "They gave me an opportunity to continue to coach and to help have an impact on that group of guys. We grew a lot in the two years that I was there."

Not only have the Pacers grown, they come to the Pepsi Center as contenders for the NBA championship. They have the best record in the league and a star player in Paul George.

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The Pacers are the only team in the league not to have lost at least 10 games this season.

"It's a team that if we don't get the score up in the 100s, we're not going to give ourselves much of a chance to win," Shaw said. "They have the capability of holding you to 60, 70, 80 points and if they do that, that means they are controlling the tempo and their will is overcoming ours."

INDIANA AT DENVER

7 p.m. Saturday, ALT; 104.3 FM

Spotlight on Lance Stephenson: While the debate in Denver about Ty Lawson's all-star worthiness continues to be kicked around, one has grown around Indiana's Lance Stephenson as well. He's been an indispensable cog in the Pacers' red-hot start this season, has the most triple-doubles in the NBA (three) and is one of only four players in the league averaging at least six rebounds and five assists.

NOTEBOOK

Nuggets: The team returned late from Thursday's game at Portland and did not practice Friday. ... Darrell Arthur (hip) is not expected to play Saturday. His absence has been a big blow to Denver's defense. ... This is the first of a back-to-back set for the Nuggets, who travel to play Sacramento on Sunday.

Pacers: Saturday's game is Indiana's second of a back-to-back set. The Pacers played at Sacramento on Friday. ... Going back to the 2004-05 season, the Pacers have struggled against Denver, winning just three of their 17 meetings. The Pacers haven't won in Denver since Nov. 27, 2007.

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